Several hundred people demonstrated in Montreal on Saturday against Housing Bill 31, which would allow property owners to more easily reject rental transfers.
Equipped with signs, whistles or musical instruments, the demonstrators gathered in the Parc Extension district at midday despite the gray weather.
It has long been proven time and again that the problem is excessive rent increases between tenant changes. Landlords take advantage of this when moving to circumvent the law and raise abusive rents.
This demonstration took place while earlier this week the lease transfer article in Bill 31 was approved article by article in the parliamentary committee during the detailed consideration of the bill.
“We are taking away the only means of calming tenants,” complained Mr. Blanchard. In addition to the RCLALQ, the Front for the Fight for Popular Real Estate (FLIP) and the Parc-Extension Action Committee also took part in organizing this event.
If Bill 31 is passed, an owner may refuse an assignment of a lease for reasons other than serious ones. Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau defended herself this week, arguing that if an owner refuses to transfer a rental agreement, it will simply be terminated. The tenant is therefore free to leave the house.
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Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau. (archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Sylvain Roy Roussel
She emphasized that the rent transfer was not a rent control measure and that all price setting rules would continue to apply.
The organizations that planned this demonstration called for Minister Duranceau’s resignation on Saturday. They also advocate an immediate rent freeze and the socialization of all new apartments.
In each article we try to find out how we can improve the situation of tenants in the context of a housing crisis. The bill is not yet ready and we do not know whether we will be able to finalize it this week. I have several amendments and so do the other opposition groups.
Mr Fontecilla, who is involved in the detailed review of the bill, said he did not know whether the bill would be passed by Friday.
The situation is serious: rents continue to rise, it leads to practices such as renovations, it leads to more homelessness, it leads to the impoverishment of lower income households and also middle class households, he explained together with his colleague in the House of Representatives for the Verdun constituency. Alejandra Zaga Mendez.
This is unacceptable
Saturday’s demonstration was attended by several tenants concerned about their fate in connection with the housing crisis.
For me it is a [problème] because I always [peur] that I could be pushed out. “It’s not reassuring to know that there aren’t that many options for renters,” said Julia Stirling. The tenant, who is also a social worker, says she sees the impact the current crisis is having on the population.
“I’m really angry that the government doesn’t care about inequality,” she said.
Annie Charbonneau, a worker at shelters that help struggling women, particularly victims of domestic violence, said she sees the consequences of the housing crisis in the context of her work.
There are more and more customers, we can do this less and less [aider ces personnes-là] And there are people who have never been on the streets, who have never been homeless, but who are becoming homeless because of the new rent increases.
For female victims of domestic violence, it is common for a woman to return to an abusive partner due to lack of housing, Ms. Charbonneau added.
If you consider that today 40% of the population lives in rent, [le fait] “To destroy or roll back the rights of these people is, in my opinion, unacceptable,” said another protester, Simon Bilodeau.
Miet Verhuwaert, who also took part in the protest, said she is now able to pay her rent but fears she will have to move one day.
What’s happening with rents today is ridiculous. I’m scared: I live alone and my current rent is still fair, but I’m scared as soon as I [vais devoir] “Moving so I can no longer pay the rent myself,” she hinted.